AG v Du Maurier (Royal Court : Hearing (Criminal) : Bailhache, W) [2025] JRC 333 (8 December 2025)

Evidence of controlling and coercive behaviour falls under Article 82C(a) as evidence relating to the facts of the offence charged and is not bad character evidence; therefore, it is admissible as relevant evidence outside the provisions of Part 9A of PPCE.

Citation: [2025] JRC 333
Parties: Prosecution: The Crown; Defendant: Defendant; Complainant: Complainant
Jurisdiction: Jersey
Judgment Date: 08 December 2025
Procedural Posture: Criminal / Pre Trial Evidentiary Ruling
Outcome: application refused
Legal Topics: Bad Character Evidence, Admissibility of Evidence, Perverting the Course of Justice, Coercive and Controlling Behaviour

Criminal Law Evidence Law Bad Character Evidence Admissibility of Evidence Perverting the Course of Justice Coercive and Controlling Behaviour

Case Brief

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Parties

The Crown

Prosecution

Defendant

Complainant

Procedural Posture

Criminal / Pre Trial Evidentiary Ruling

Legal Issues

1 Whether evidence of coercive and controlling behaviour constitutes bad character evidence under Jersey law
2 Whether late service of bad character notice precludes admissibility
3 Whether the evidence is relevant to the offence charged

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

application refused

Orders

Evidence of controlling and coercive behaviour is admissible as relevant evidence and not excluded as bad character evidence.
If undue focus is given to alleged behaviour before the offence, the Court will direct examination to move on.